Velma M. Buttram
ROGERS — Velma Marie Buttram (nee:Wright) made her final journey into the Gates of Heaven on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at Circle of Life Hospice House, located in Bentonville.
She was born in Caddo Gap, Ark., on Sept. 14, 1940. The past 20 years, she resided in Rogers, Ark., with her late husband of 61 years, Rev. James G. Buttram, whom she referred to as, “The love of her life.”
She was the daughter of the late Haskel Raymond Wright and Celie Marie Wehunt-Wright of Glenwood, Ark. (Her father of birth was the late Clifton “Bud” Petty of Briggsville, Ark.).
She is survived by her three daughters: Dr. Jacquelin Buttram-Brownell (Scott), Charlotte Buttram-El Adaoui (Abdul) and Angela Buttram. She has seven grandchildren: Bethany Brownell-Walmsley (Evan), Brittany Anderson-Ray, Rev. James Brownell (Grace), Bradley Williams, Kathryn Brownell-Rodgers (Logan), Brooke Woods, and Sherene El Adaoui (Dr. Aysam Mahmoud ); and eight great-grandchildren: Caitlyn, Addison, Damon, Jackson, Emery-Beth, Eleanor, Hollyn and Benjamin. She is also survived by her most beloved brother, Freddy Joe Wright of Glenwood, Ark.
Mrs. Buttram was a brilliant lady with many gifts, talents, hobbies and callings.
She received her Masters Degree in Education from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark. She held licenses in insurances and securities in California and Arkansas, and worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance and the La Patina School of Law, helping lawyers to study and pass the bar. She also holds lifetime teaching licenses in English and multiple subjects in California, Arkansas and Louisiana. She retired at 72 years of age from Springdale Public Schools in Arkansas. Everyone would ask her why she kept on teaching and her reply, “Because I love the students and I feel I have a purpose in helping them to read, write and speak well and to help them graduate.” Mrs. Buttram helped her husband in full-time ministry for over 30 years. She built churches, raised monies for missions, while feeding and clothing those without. She held a strong conviction for God’s Holy Word and taught Sunday school from 16 years of age until she was not able too.
There are few women like our mother. She could design, tailor and sew everyone’s clothes, while gardening and annually canning fruits and vegetables from her and Dad’s gardens and orchards. Her art, songwriting and piano playing was inspirational, along with her ability to teach and play the organ with both hands and feet. She opened and closed revival meetings with her accordion when it was the only instrument. Her creativity to direct large musicals, cantatas, choirs and train youth to compete in Teen Talent, of which her three daughters became Assemblies of God winners, will always be remembered. She could persuade anyone to do just about anything. Mrs. Buttram was one of a kind. On her 80th birthday, in her front yard, she still had the pizzazz to play her accordion when the family gathered at her home to celebrate her big day!
Mrs. Buttram will always be remembered as a great woman of the faith who persevered and cared for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren like no other mother. She let every child, grandchild and great-grandchild know they were equally loved with her words, gifts, affection and never missed special days of dedications, baptisms, weddings and birthdays. She was a lover of God and His Word, The Bible. She lived a life full of the Holy Spirit and was a great example of God’s love until her last breath. We will miss you mother! We know without a doubt we will see you in heaven. Mother’s favorite Bible scripture: “I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all, (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
She was a lifetime member of the Assemblies of God and a current member of New Hope Assembly of God located in Rogers, Ark. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. today until service time, and a celebration of Velma’s life will begin at 2 p.m. today at New Hope Assembly of God, with Pastor James Longmate, Pastor Scott Brownell and Pastor James Brownell officiating.
A second celebration will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Norman Assembly of God, located at 103 Caddo Ave., in Norman, Ark., with Pastor Glen Wehunt and Pastor Vernon Wehunt officiating. Interment will follow at Black Springs Cemetery, located in Black Springs, Ark., with Pastor Scott Brownell officiating.
Pallbearers will be: James Brownell, Logan Rodgers, Vance Wright and Justin Humes. Honorary pallbearers will be: Aysam Mahmoud and Evan Walmsley.
Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bentonville. Condolences: http://www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.